Box for receiving memory card device

ABSTRACT

A box includes a compartment for receiving a memory card device having a positioning groove. A retaining member is pivotally mounted in the box and includes a first end exposed outside the box for operation. The retaining member further includes a second end engaging with the positioning groove of the memory card device to retain the memory card device in the compartment. The first end of the retaining member is operable to disengage the second end of the retaining member from the positioning groove of the memory card device.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a box and more particularly, to a boxfor receiving a memory card device.

2. Description of the Related Art

Electronic cards are widely used in computers and electronicdictionaries for expanding memories, network cards, modems, and smallcomputer system interfaces (SCSI) such as high-capacity hard disks,scanners, etc. In addition to personal computer memory cardinternational association (PCMCIA) card, electronic cards includemulti-media cards (MMC), compact flash cards (CF), smart media cards(SMC), memory sticks (MS), secure digital memory cards (SD) for use inpersonal digital assistants (PDA), portable electronic dictionaries,digital cameras, etc.

However, most memory cards have an interface of a specific specificationand thus cannot be used with the connection interface of widely used USB(universal serial bus) specification. A currently availabledual-interface memory card includes a USB interface and a read/writeinterface. A user may either couple the USB interface with a USB socketof an electronic device or couple the read/write interface with aread/write interface socket for access to read/write data. Further, sucha dual-interface memory card can be converted into a memory card ofanother type by coupling the read/write interface with an adaptor.

The memory card and the adaptor can be received in a box for storage andeasy carriage. However, the memory card and the adaptor cannot bereceived in the box in an easy, convenient manner. Further, the memorycard and the adaptor are liable to disengage from the box due toexternal force or shock. Thus, the memory card and the adaptor might bedamaged or even lost.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A box in accordance with the present invention comprises a compartmentfor receiving a memory card device having a positioning groove. Aretaining member is pivotally mounted in the box and includes a firstend exposed outside the box for operation. The retaining member furtherincludes a second end engaging with the positioning groove of the memorycard device to retain the memory card device in the compartment. Thefirst end of the retaining member is operable to disengage the secondend of the retaining member from the positioning groove of the memorycard device.

Preferably, a mounting space is defined between a perimeter walldefining the compartment and a side of the box. The retaining member ispivotally mounted in the mounting space.

Preferably, the side of the box includes an opening through which thefirst end of the retaining member extends outside the box.

Preferably, the second end of the retaining member includes a hook forengaging with the positioning groove of the memory card device.

Preferably, the perimeter wall defining the compartment includes a slotthrough which the hook of the retaining member extends into thepositioning groove of the memory card device.

Preferably, the hook is disengaged from the positioning groove of thememory card device when the first end of the retaining member ispressed.

Preferably, the retaining member includes a pivot hole, and the boxincludes a pivot extending through the pivot hole.

Preferably, the box further includes means for biasing the first end ofthe retaining member into the positioning groove of the memory carddevice.

In an example, the means for biasing includes a resilient member. Theresilient member includes a first end integral with the retaining memberand a movable second end pressing against the box. The first end of theresilient member extends from the second end of the retaining member,and the second end of the resilient member movably presses against anextension extending from a perimeter wall of the box.

Preferably, the box includes a body and a lid coupled to the body.

The memory card device may be a memory card including a positioninggroove in a side thereof.

Alternatively, the memory card device is an adapter including apositioning groove in a side thereof. A memory card is removablyreceived in the adapter.

Other objectives, advantages, and features of the invention will becomemore apparent from the following detailed description when taken inconjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a box for receiving a memory card devicein accordance with the present invention, wherein a dual-interfacememory card and an adaptor are received in the box.

FIG. 2 is an elevation of the box in FIG. 1, wherein a lid of the box isremoved.

FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. 2, wherein the memory card is removedfrom the box.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing the other side of the memory cardin FIG. 2.

FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 2, illustrating receiving of asingle-interface memory card in the box.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the box, wherein the memory card and theadaptor are removed from the box.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the box in FIG. 6, wherein a retainingmember is removed from the box.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the retaining member.

FIG. 9 is a bottom perspective view of the lid of the box in accordancewith the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a partially engaged view of FIG. 2, illustrating operation ofthe retaining member.

FIG. 11 is a perspective view illustrating another embodiment of the boxin accordance with the present invention, wherein three memory cards andtwo adaptors are received in the box.

FIG. 12 is an elevation of the box in FIG. 11, wherein a lid is removedfrom the box.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

A box in accordance with the present invention can be used to receive amemory card device. The term “memory card device” used herein means atleast one memory card and/or at least one adaptor. The memory card maybe a dual-interface memory card 30 shown in FIGS. 1 through 4 or asingle-interface memory card 31 shown in FIG. 5.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, an end of the box 10 includes an opening orslot 13 a through which the memory card device is inserted into acompartment 13 defined in the box 10. An opening 15 (see FIGS. 7 and 9)is defined in a perimeter wall defining the compartment 13. A mountingspace (not labeled) is defined between this perimeter wall and a side ofthe box 10. The side of the box 20 includes a slot 14. In this example,the box 10 includes a body 12 and a lid 11 coupled with the body 12 viaa plurality of hooks 17 and engaging notches 18, as shown in FIGS. 7 and9. A through-hole 19 is defined in a corner of the box 10 for mounting akey ring (not labeled).

A retaining member 20 is pivotally mounted in the mounting space of thebox 10 by a pivot 16 (see FIGS. 5-7) that is formed in the box 10 andthat extends through a pivot hole 23 in an intermediate portion of theretaining member 20. The retaining member 20 includes a first end 21extending outside the box 10 via the slot 14 (see FIGS. 7 and 9) formanual operation. The retaining member 20 further includes a second end(not labeled) with a hook 22 extending through the opening 15 into thecompartment 13 of the box 10. A resilient member 24 biases the hook 22of the retaining member 20 into the compartment 13 via the opening 15.Referring to FIG. 6, in this example, the resilient member 24 has an end25 integral with the second end of the retaining member 20. The othermovable end 26 of the resilient member 24 presses against an extensionextending inward from a perimeter wall of the box 10. Referring to FIGS.6 and 8, a stop 27 is provided on the first end 21 of the resilientmember 24. The stop 27 presses against an inner wall of the box 10 tocontrol the position of the first end 21 of the retaining member 20.

In the example shown in FIG. 2, a dual-interface memory card 30 isreceived in an adapter 34, which, in turn, is received in thecompartment 13 of the box 10. Referring to FIG. 4, the memory card 30includes a USB interface 36 and a read/write interface 37. The memorycard 30 can be removed from the adaptor 34 for use (see FIG. 3). Morespecifically, the USB interface 36 of the memory card 30 can be coupledwith a USB socket (not shown) for data saving/reading operations.Alternatively, the memory card 30 and the adaptor 34 can be togetherremoved from the box 10 for use. More specifically, the memory card 30is converted into, e.g., an SD card, an MS card, or a memory card ofanother type by mounting the memory card 30 with a read/write interface37 in the adaptor 30.

The adaptor 34 includes a positioning groove 38 in a side thereof. Whenthe adaptor 34 is received in the compartment 13 of the box 10, thepositioning notch 38 is aligned with the opening 15 of the box 10.Referring to FIG. 2, the hook 22 of the retaining member 20 is biased bythe resilient member 24 into the positioning groove 38 of the adaptor34. Thus, the memory card 30 and the adaptor 34 are reliably retained inplace in the compartment 13 of the box 10. With reference to FIG. 10,the first end 21 of the retaining member 20 can be pressed to disengagethe hook 22 from the positioning groove 38 of the adaptor 34, allowingremoval of the adapter 34 from the box 10. When the adapter 34 isreinserted into the compartment 13 of the box 10, the hook 22 is pushedoutward and then-returns to engage with the positioning groove 38 of theadaptor 34 under the action of the resilient member 24.

Referring to FIG. 5, the memory card may be a single-interface memorycard 31 having a positioning groove 39 to allow reliable positioning inthe compartment 13 of the box 10 in a manner similar to the exampleshown in FIG. 2.

FIGS. 11 and 12 illustrate another example of the invention. In thisexample, the box (now designated by 101) includes a plurality ofcompartments 131, 132, and 133 for respectively receiving, e.g., amemory card 30 and its SD adapter 34, a memory card 32 and its MSadapter 35, and another memory card 33. It is noted that correspondingelements and structures are provided for allowing reliable positioningof the respective memory cards 30, 32, and 33 and associated adapters 34and 35.

As apparent from the foregoing, the box 10, 101 in accordance with thepresent invention is capable of reliably retaining a memory card devicein place without the risk of undesired disengagement of the memory carddevice due to external force or shock.

Although specific embodiments have been illustrated and described,numerous modifications and variations are still possible. The scope ofthe invention is limited by the accompanying claims.

1. A box for receiving a memory card device, the box comprising acompartment for receiving a memory card device having a positioninggroove, a retaining member being pivotally mounted in the box andincluding a first end exposed outside the box for operation, theretaining member further including a second end engaging with thepositioning groove of the memory card device to retain the memory carddevice in the compartment, the first end of the retaining member beingoperable to disengage the second end of the retaining member from thepositioning groove of the memory card device.
 2. The box for receiving amemory card device as claimed in claim 1 wherein a mounting space isdefined between a perimeter wall defining the compartment and a side ofthe box, the retaining member being pivotally mounted in the mountingspace.
 3. The box for receiving a memory card device as claimed in claim2 wherein the side of the box includes an opening through which thefirst end of the retaining member extends outside the box.
 4. The boxfor receiving a memory card device as claimed in claim 3 wherein thesecond end of the retaining member includes a hook for engaging with thepositioning groove of the memory card device.
 5. The box for receiving amemory card device as claimed in claim 4 wherein the perimeter walldefining the compartment includes a slot through which the hook of theretaining member extends into the positioning groove of the memory carddevice.
 6. The box for receiving a memory card device as claimed inclaim 5 wherein the hook is disengaged from the positioning groove ofthe memory card device when the first end of the retaining member ispressed.
 7. The box for receiving a memory card device as claimed inclaim 6 wherein the retaining member includes a pivot hole, the boxincluding a pivot extending through the pivot hole.
 8. The box forreceiving a memory card device as claimed in claim 1 further includingmeans for biasing the first end of the retaining member into thepositioning groove of the memory card device.
 9. The box for receiving amemory card device as claimed in claim 8 wherein said means for biasingincludes a resilient member.
 10. The box for receiving a memory carddevice as claimed in claim 9 wherein the resilient member includes afirst end integral with the retaining member and a movable second endpressing against the box.
 11. The box for receiving a memory card deviceas claimed in claim 10 wherein the first end of the resilient memberextends from the second end of the retaining member, and wherein thesecond end of the resilient member movably presses against an extensionextending from a perimeter wall of the box.
 12. The box for receiving amemory card device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the box includes a bodyand a lid coupled to the body.
 13. The box for receiving a memory carddevice as claimed in claim 1 wherein the memory card device is a memorycard including a positioning groove in a side thereof.
 14. The box forreceiving a memory card device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the memorycard device is an adapter including a positioning groove in a sidethereof.
 15. The box for receiving a memory card device as claimed inclaim 14 wherein the memory card device further includes a memory cardremovably received in the adapter.